Articles by Month: July 2013

The lights, the sirens and the cascade of water are all attributes of the modern day fire truck. For both kids and grown ups, the fuss created by a fire truck in action is thrilling beyond belief. The evolution of the fire truck dates back to the 1700s, when the British built pumps to put out fires in Europe as well as the U.S. While today’s modern fire truck appears quite different from its predecessors, many of the features have been around for hundreds of years.

The first hand-pumped fire engine was developed in Philadelphia in the late 18th and early 19th century. This particular style of engine was pulled by hand to a fire. Pump handles, or “brakes,” and standing boards folded up to maneuver through crowded streets. With these extended, twenty or more firefighters could operate the pumps, with several teams working in short shifts. An engine of this size could throw over 100 gallons a minute on a blaze from a distance of 150 feet or more. Firefighters directed streams either from a long nozzle fixed on top or through leather hoses attached to discharges at the sides. The key difference for this engine as opposed to earlier engines was that it was equipped with suction to draw directly from municipal hydrants and cisterns in lieu of being filled with water by buckets.

A hand-pumped fire engine built by Betts, Harlan & Hollingsworth in 1842 is currently on display at The National Museum of American History. Located adjacent to the Conestoga Wagon on the first floor center area, the display is a representation of the courage and civil service provided throughout history by firefighters across the country.

Fire-Dex and Ten-8 are pleased to invite you to attend a four (4) hour meeting to review the basics of NFPA Standard #1851 and discuss selection, care and maintenance of PPE. Training on a gear tracking software will also be included.

Who should attend?Anyone charged with the selection, care, maintenance and tracking of bunker gear, helmets and boots and all other PPE.

Steve Efthimos has worked with Fire Etc for 12 years. He has headed up the Government and Federal Sales Division for the last 2.5 years, working with over 110 Naval Vessels, USCG, Army and Air Force Departments in San Diego and around the world. Fire Etc stocks Fire-Dex Proximity gear and Fire Boots. Steve has done an outstanding job in selling this gear to the US Government. At Fire Etc, he wears many hats during the day; they get a lot of walk-in traffic to sell to daily.

Steve is a veteran of the US Army, serving in the Military Police Corps as a NCO. He has lived around the world on 3 different continents. He is a former civilian police officer from the state of Missouri. He has a son who is currently in Basic Training in the US Army and a three year old daughter. He lives close to the beach in San Diego and enjoys all sports. Even living in San Diego, he is a dirty Raiders’ fan and also a big baseball fan. The SF Giants is his team of choice.

A touching tribute to fallen fighters stands in Colorado Springs, CO. The memorial was put in place by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Foundation, which was founded in 1976 to honor professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who were killed in the line of duty. The foundation also provides assistance to the surviving spouses and children of those who have perished.

At the center of the memorial is a bronze statue that shows a fire fighter descending a ladder, cradling an infant. The title of the statue is, “Somewhere, Everyday”, epitomizing the courage and bravery displayed daily by professional fire fighters across the country.

In 1989, the IAFF erected the first of two granite walls, which hold the names of fallen IAFF members. Although thousands have died throughout history, the names on this wall date back only through 1976, when the U.S. federal government first began tracking line-of-duty deaths in the fire service.

Throughout the years, the memorial has received many upgrades, transforming a small memorial into one of international stature. The upgrades include paving stone, monument lighting, flag standards and walkways, which now add beauty to a hallowed place and create an atmosphere of dignity for all who visit.

The original wall is now filled to near capacity with names of fallen heroes, leading to a second wall that was erected just a few steps from the original. The new memorial wall was dedicated on September 15, 2001; four days after terrorist attacks claimed 347 New York City fire fighters. There are future plans to add to the memorial sites all the names of IAFF professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who have died since the founding of the IAFF in 1918.

There is a ceremonial service held every year in September to honor the sacrifice made by the fire fighters and paramedics who gave their lives in the line of duty during the previous year.